Oppressive Rays from 'Journey Into Nyx'

Oppressive Rays is a new white "Magic: The Gathering" card featured in the "Pantheon's Power" Intro Pack from Wizards of the Coast's expert "Magic: The Gathering" expansion set "Journey Into Nyx." This common enchantment can significantly slow down an opponent's early game attackers, buying you valuable time.

Oppressive Rays is an MVP in limited games early on, when your rival would rather play additional threats than pay the three mana to attack with the creature you enchant. Later, the three mana won't be such a big deal for the purpose of attacking, nevertheless it'll still put a huge monkey wrench in their plans to abuse activated abilities efficiently.

Oppressive Rays is much more impressive when you have constellation creatures such as Underworld Coinsmith, Grim Guardian,Harvestguard Alseids, Doomwake Giant, or Dreadbringer Lampads on the battlefield. It may not be Pacifism, however when you can gain a life, make your opponent lose a life, prevent all damage to one of your creatures, give all your opponent's creatures -1/-1, and make your largest threat gain intimidate for just one white mana what's not to love about Oppressive Rays?

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David Leavitt has been playing Magic: The Gathering since Unlimited. He's helped run two major Magic websites: MtgNews and MtgSalvation. Designer of the Tempest theme deck Forest Fire, David QA'd the original Magic Online client and multiple sets thereafter. He's won thousands of dollars in Magic product competing in local tournaments across Massachusetts. He also writes a gaming column. You may contact him at DavidLeavitt@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.